Following a violent face-off between Indian troops and soldiers of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), India's border with China in Himachal Pradesh has been put on alert.

In addition to putting border regions on alert, the Himachal Pradesh Police has also activated all secret agencies to remain on standby.

An advisory has also been issued to safeguard locals residing in Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur districts.
Himachal Police and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel will also be deployed in the region as a precautionary measure.

India's border with China in Himachal Pradesh falls in the two districts of Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur.

According to a preliminary statement by the Indian Army, "During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday night with casualties. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation."

"A violent face-off happened as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo there (Galwan) on the late evening and night of June 15. Both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided had the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side," MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said on June 16.